Where to stay in Varenna, Italy for 2 nights?
 

DH and me plan to stop at Varenna for 2 nights. Any suggestions? Vacation rental preferred.

Thanks!

It would help to know your budget and the time of year you plan to go.

In mid Sep. Moderate budget?

And moderate = ?? euros...

I'll add myself to this discussion, because my husband and I are trying to decide between Bellagio and Varenna for a 4-night stay in mid to late May. Our budget is in the €100 to €150 euro per night range, for a double room.

We'll be arriving by train, and departing for Switzerland four days later, again by train.

I assume when you say "vacation rental," you mean an apartment.Check with Albergo Milano. However, I believe those dates are in high season, so you may have a problem finding something there, or anywhere in Varenna proper, for less than 150 euros/nt.

Although is is right near the ferry dock, try http://www.olivedo.it/eng/index.html

We were going to stay there 11 May - 15 May and cancelled reservations a few weeks back [decided to go stay in Bellagio]. Perhaps the room is still available. It was €165 a night, including breakfast. Gets great reviews.

There was article in the NYT a few weeks back http://www.nytimes.com/2015/03/01/tr...ing-still.html
which mentioned two hotels:

"Where to Stay

Next door to the Basilica di Sant’Apollinare Nuovo and within walking distance of the town center, Palazzo Bezzi offers sleek rooms starting at 59 euros a night, including breakfast.

Within the historic center, the bed-and-breakfast Al Teatro has three charming rooms, each with en suite bathroom. Doubles start at 80 euros a night.

Uh... The destination is Varenna, not Ravenna.

Just switch two letters and such a difference in prices!

I looked at the Olivedo, but it seemed overpriced for what it offered. It looks to me as though Bellagio has a bigger selection of rooms.

Many "vacation rentals" aren't available for two-night stays. It seems as though Varenna has a number of "aparthotels", based on my research on booking.com .

We are staying at Villa Varenna in late June and the room rates (B&B) are 150 to 170 euro. Villa Varenna is near the train station so no problems moving luggage over the cobblestones as we had when we stayed at Villa Cipressi. The owner of Villa Varenna which has five ensuite rooms has been very helpful with our planning and we look forward to returning to the delightful town.

Oops -- sorry about that!

I've decided on Bellagio; I've reserved the Haus Bethusy for four nights. It's €90 per night, and is a studio apartment in an aparthotel, fairly near the ferry port.

Now I'm trying to decide on the Swiss part.

We stayed in Varenna in 2013 and used one of the apartments run by Varenna Flats. Our host, Marilena, was well organised and a wealth of information. Have a look at there website.
We wee glad we chose Varenna over Bellagio as it was quieter, flatter and cheaper but still had a great choice of dining and transport options.

Two years ago in August we spent 3 or 4 nights at the Hotel Olivedo and really enjoyed the time there. The owner marches to the beat of her own drum, though. The property is located at the navette pier and made for easy connections. The room's are extremely well kept and spacious. The breakfast was served outside facing the lake and was most enjoyable to sit, eat, have coffee, and look out at the lake.

The first or second night there a concert was held in the adjacent park and the music played late into the night by a very talented band. it was a great way to end the day and drift off to sleep.

The hotel is located about a 10 minute walk from the rail station and the town center. We would definitely stay there again.

Sorry - adding onto the question, but the answers may be useful to all. I have reservations at Hotel Olivedo, but am wondering if the ferry landing is loud/annoying? Also, does staying on this bay vs the next make you feel separated from the main town? It looks like it it about a 15 min walk around to the other bay and then up to the main town. It looks like most bars / restaurants are on this second bay (so not the one with the ferry landing where Olivedo is) and in town. For people who like to stay out in the evening a bit - is it going to be a pain to walk back to Olivedo each night? Might we like a hotel/B&B on the second bay or in town better. Please advise. Thanks!

The walk is not bad between the bays and up to the village center, as long as you aren't dealing with luggage.

Don't know when your stay is or how long it is but from what we saw, there was very little in Varenna to do at night (granted it was mid May and things were just "waking up" from winter. Also, i had read that the ferry doesn't run into the evening hours, even during summer. So if you go to Bellagio for dinner, you need to be mindful of ferry schedule.

The ferry dock is RIGHT in front of Olivedo. I can't see how it wouldn't be noisy and fumes from ferry.

All of the above is why we decided not to stay there; as always... YMMV.

I was involved in the original discussion, and I'd like to report that we really liked the Haus Bethusy. It was not far from the ferry dock in Bellagio, but it was well uphill. They had an excellent breakfast and good air conditioning, and the proprietors were very kind and helpful.

As far as I'm concerned, there's almost nothing to do in either Bellagio or Varenna, whether by day or by night. Some nice scenery, a few villas to explore, mediocre and overpriced restaurants, and lots of shopping. All transportation shuts down at an ungodly early hour. After about 7 or 8 PM, you have to call a night taxi.

We had several nice meals, I have a list somewhere. Yes,
Lake Como isn't where you go if you want lively night life.

The taxi is a long, long ride to get to Varenna and costly. Do not miss that last ferry. You could take a water taxi, which would of course be as fast as ferry and far less costly that car/taxi.

I am guess that bvlenci meant water taxi....